Sajad Lone, 2 PDP leaders released as Abdullahs, Mehbooba complete 6 months in detention

Barkat Khanday
Srinagar: Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone and two PDP leaders Ab Qayoom wani and Waheed U Rehman Parra a leader of Mehbooba Mufti led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were on Wednesday morning release from MLA hostel Srinagar declared a sub jail in October last year when the government shifted the detained leaders to MLA hostel from SKICC which was also declared a sub jail for detained leaders on August 5 the day erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir was bifuracated into two union territories and special status to erstwhile state was withdrawn by abrogating article 370 and article 35 A. Three former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday though completed six months of detention but government is yet to drop a hint on their release.
Reports said that Sajad Gani Lone the Chairman Peoples Conference known for his association with BJP even after the fall of Mehbooba led government with the withdrawal of support to it by BJP was released on Wednesday along with Waheed-U-Rehman Parra and Abdul Qayoom Wani both belonging to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mehbooba Mufti. So for the government is silent over the detention of three former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti but the release of detained mainstream leaders has been fast paced days after US Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells in a statement after the recent visit of a team of the envoys of European Union asked India to release all leaders of Jammu & Kashmir detained “without any charge”. The release of detained leaders is picking up amid fresh political activity in Kashmir where a group of former legislators led by former Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has demanded statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and grant of domicile rights for jobs besides protection of land rights. Days ago the Jammu & Kashmir government ordered that selections for Medical and Dental courses through national level NEET test will be restricted to the bonafide residents of Jammu & Kashmir